Chris Meyer from BRAF announced the kickoff of Plan Baton Rouge 3, the third iteration of downtown master planning efforts that began over 20 years ago. This plan will involve nine months of intense community engagement, visioning, and discussions to create a new investment plan for downtown Baton Rouge and its connected corridors. The focus will be on areas like Nicholson Drive and expanding beyond the initial three blocks of downtown.
The first Plan Baton Rouge in 1998 led to significant changes in the skyline, with over $3 billion in private investment following nearly $1 billion in public investment. Key projects included the Capital Park and the Shaw Center for the Arts, which spurred growth in downtown residency and office investments, especially post-pandemic. The success of past plans was due to active implementation by community leaders.
Plan Baton Rouge 3 aims to build on this success by addressing less developed areas, improving access to the river, and creating family-friendly spaces like community parks. The plan is inclusive, involving various stakeholders, including regional parish presidents, to ensure it benefits everyone.
The next nine months will see extensive outreach and engagement, starting in April, with formal and informal opportunities for public input. The plan will focus on at least five catalytic sites and the riverfront, aiming to deliver projects in the near term. Existing development opportunities, such as those from LSU to Memorial Stadium, will be integrated into the plan.
Implementation will begin as soon as possible, with organizations like Memorial Stadium and LSU already planning their projects. The goal is to maximize these investments and expand downtown housing, potentially tripling the number of residents. The plan seeks to create a vibrant, livable downtown used year-round by all Baton Rouge residents.
The announcement emphasized the importance of community involvement and the momentum needed to achieve the next level of downtown growth and opportunity.